Ketogenic diet, epilepsy and cognition: what do we know so far? A systematic review.

CONTEXT: Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder that has social, cognitive, and psychological consequences to the patient. OBJECTIVE: The effects of the ketogenic diet (KD) in children and adults with pharmacoresistant epilepsy on cognitive function were evaluated in this systematic review. DATA SOURCES: The MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Web of Science, and LILACS databases were searched up to February 2021. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: From the 2973 records initially identified, 24 studies were included in the systematic review. These records were screened via PICO criteria, focusing on studies that evaluated the effects of KD on cognitive function of patients with pharmacoresistant epilepsy. RESULTS: Nineteen studies described improvements in cognitive function attributed to KD; improvements were not observed in 2 studies, but neither was aggravation. Contradictory results were reported in 3 studies, depending on the method used to assess cognition. At first glance, cognitive function appears to be associated with the number of seizures, diet effectiveness, amount of carbohydrate ingested, and antiseizure medication used. However, due to the diversity of methods used to assess cognitive function, especially self-perception of cognitive improvement by the patient, it was not possible to confirm this hypothesis. CONCLUSION: It was not possible to confirm if KD itself promotes improvements in cognitive function in patients with pharmacoresistant epilepsy. Certainly, more studies are needed with better methodological quality, larger and more homogeneous samples in relation to epileptic syndrome and clinical aspects of the disease, more rigid monitoring of adherence to the diet, and use of standardized tests for neuropsychological assessment. Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO registration no. CRD42019129236.

Cardiometabolic risk and effectiveness of the modified Atkins Ketogenic Diet for adult patients with pharmacoresistant epilepsies in a middle-income country.

A ketogenic diet may be a therapeutic option for approximately one third of patients with epilepsy. These patients continue to have seizures despite suitable pharmacological treatment. Regardless of the diet's therapeutic potential regarding seizure control, adverse events may coexist. This requires constant monitoring of the patient as comorbidities may emerge. A prospective, nonrandomized and uncontrolled study was conducted to evaluate the effect of a ketogenic diet on cardiometabolic parameters (lipid profile, glycemic profile and body composition variables) and seizure control in adult patients with pharmacoresistant epilepsies. Patients followed the Modified Atkin's Diet (MAD), with a restriction of 20 g of carbohydrates per day, adequate protein amounts and fats ad libitum for 24 weeks. Fourteen eligible patients were enrolled in the study, however, only eight completed the treatment (four women with an average age of 33.5 ± 9.9 years and four men with an average age of 27.5 ± 9.0 years; p = 0.386). The median of focal impaired awareness seizures decreased from 9.0 (interquartile range [IQR] 4.0-28.0) seizures per month pre-diet to 4.0 (IQR 0.5-11.2) seizures per month in 12 weeks (p = 0.028), i.e. a 55.5% reduction. Total cholesterol (19,711 ± 1373 mg/dL to 28,427 ± 2545 mg/dL; p = 0.016), LDL (131.47 ± 1319 mg/dL to 194.85 ± 20.41 mg/dL; p = 0.037), and non-HDL (140.20 ± 13.04 mg/dL to 219.75 ± 28.53 mg/dL; p = 0.028) levels increased progressively over the intervention period, being significant at 24 weeks (n = 6). A significant reduction in blood glucose (89.70 ± 2.20 mg/dL to 82.62 ± 1.45 mg/dL at week 24, p < 0.001, n = 6), insulin (11.02 ± 1.78 µUI/mL to 6.20 ± 0.71 µUI/mL at week 12, p < 0.001, n = 6) and HOMA-IR index was observed (1.46 ± 0.29 to 0.91 ± 0.23 at week 24, p < 0.001, n = 5). The estimated cardiovascular risk after treatment was low for all patients (less than 10 %). A significant reduction in body weight (76.28 ± 6.62 kg to 69.14 ± 5.63 kg; p < 0.001), body mass index (26.41 ± 1.79 kg/m² to 24.05 ± 1.58 kg/m²; p = 0.001), and waist (87.40 ± 4.98 cm to 78.61 ± 3.94 cm; p < 0.001) and arm circumferences (32.12 ± 1.97 cm to 28.98 ± 1.30 cm; p < 0.001) was observed (n = 8), as well as reduction in fat mass (26.85 ± 3.15 g to 21.54 ± 2.64 g; p < 0.001) and fat free mass (48.01 ± 2.75 g to 46.60 ± 2.29 g; p < 0.001), n = 7. Adverse events were generally mild and treatable, with the following being the most common: headache (50 %), weakness (50 %), and gastrointestinal symptoms (37.5 %). Potentially atherogenic lipid profile changes were observed; however, improved glycemic control and reduced body weight and waist circumference demonstrated an improvement in cardiometabolic parameters. Framingham score and the QRISK3 showed lower cardiovascular disease risk for some of the patients. Our data suggests MAD could be an appropriate therapeutic choice for adults with pharmacoresistant epilepsies.

Condutas de gestores relacionadas ao apoio ao aleitamento materno nos locais de trabalho / Conductas de los gestores relacionadas con el apoyo al amamantamiento materno en los lugares de trabajo / Manager's conduct related to the breastfeeding support at the workplace

RESUMO Objetivo: identificar as condutas de gestores relacionadas ao apoio ao aleitamento materno realizadas em empresas públicas e privadas da região da Grande Florianópolis, Santa Catarina. Método: pesquisa qualitativa, exploratório-descritiva. A coleta de dados ocorreu em agosto de 2015, sendo utilizadas a entrevista semiestruturada e projetiva, em que participaram 20 gestores. A organização dos dados foi realizada através do software Atlas.ti e a análise, através da Análise de Conteúdo. Resultados: o estudo evidenciou duas categorias. Na primeira categoria foram descritas as condutas positivas: importância da amamentação, disponibilização de informações, acompanhamento e realização de atividades durante o processo de maternidade, flexibilidade de função, horário e espaço para viabilizarem a amamentação, apoio à família, comunicação aberta, creche e bom tratamento à trabalhadora. A segunda categoria apresenta as condutas prejudiciais, na qual se constataram a indisponibilidade de informações especializadas e flexibilidade, visão negativa em relação à implantação das salas de apoio à amamentação, desconhecimento das legislações e da situação da trabalhadora, isenção da responsabilidade, indisponibilidade de creche, não ampliação da licença-maternidade, não adesão ao Programa Empresa Cidadã e não existência de política de apoio à amamentação. Conclusão: lacunas substanciais no apoio à amamentação dos locais de trabalho foram identificadas através das condutas evidenciadas pelos gestores. Para que uma cultura pró-amamentação possa ser implantada, faz-se necessário que se construa uma rede de apoio nos locais de trabalho. Considera-se importante a reflexão sobre quais condutas devem ser incentivadas e quais devem ser modificadas ou ampliadas, para que haja um aperfeiçoamento do suporte à amamentação nos locais de trabalho.

RESUMEN Objetivo: identificar las conductas de los gestores relacionadas con el apoyo para el amamantamiento materno realizadas en las empresas públicas y privadas de la región de la Gran Florianópolis, Santa Catarina. Método: investigación cualitativa y exploratoria-descriptiva. La recolección de datos se realizó en Agosto del 2015 y se utilizó la entrevista semiestructurada y proyectiva, en la que participaron 20 gestores. La organización de los datos fue realizada a través del software Atlas.ti y el análisis a través del Análisis del Contenido. Resultados: el estudio mostró dos categorías. En la primera categoría se describieron las conductas positivas: importancia del amamantamiento, disponibilidad de informaciones, acompañamiento y realización de actividades durante el proceso de maternidad, flexibilidad de la función, horario y espacio para viabilizar el amamantamiento, apoyo a la familia, comunicación abierta, guardería y el buen tratamiento de la trabajadora. La segunda categoría presenta las conductas perjudiciales y en la que se constataron la indisponibilidad de informaciones especializadas y flexibilidad, visión negativa en relación a la implementación de las salas de apoyo para el amamantamiento, desconocimiento de las legislaciones y de la situación de la trabajadora, exención de la responsabilidad, indisponibilidad de guardería, la no ampliación de la licencia por maternidad, la falta de adhesión al Programa Empresa Ciudadana y la inexistencia de una política de apoyo para el amamantamiento. Conclusión: se identificaron fallas sustanciales en el apoyo al amamantamiento de los locales de trabajo a través de las conductas evidenciadas por los gestores. Para que una cultura pro-amamantamiento pueda ser implementada es necesario que se construya una red de apoyo en los lugares de trabajo. Se considera importante la reflexión sobre qué conductas deben ser incentivadas y cuáles de ellas deben ser modificadas o ampliadas para que haya un perfeccionamiento del soporte al amamantamiento en los lugares de trabajo.

ABSTRACT Objective: to identify the behaviors of managers related to breastfeeding support in public and private companies in the region of Greater Florianópolis, Santa Catarina. Method: qualitative, exploratory-descriptive research. The data collection was carried out in August 2015, using a semi-structured and projective interview, in which 20 managers participated. The data organization was carried out through the Atlas.ti software and the analysis through the Content Analysis. Results: the study evidenced two categories. In the first category, positive behaviors were described: the importance of breastfeeding, providing information, monitoring and performing activities during the maternity process, flexibility of function, time and space to enable breastfeeding, family support, open communication, day care and good treatment to the worker. The second Category presents the harmful behaviors, which revealed the unavailability of specialized information and flexibility, a negative view regarding the implementation of breastfeeding support rooms, lack of knowledge of the legislation and the situation of the worker, exemption from liability, unavailability of day care, no extension of maternity leave, no adherence to the Citizen Company Program and no existence of a policy to support breastfeeding. Conclusion: substantial gaps in the breastfeeding support at the workplaces were identified through the behaviors shown by managers. In order for a pro-breastfeeding culture to be implemented, it is necessary to build a support network at the workplace. It is considered important to reflect on which behaviors should be encouraged and which should be modified or expanded, in order to improve the breastfeeding support at the workplace.

Caloric restriction increases hippocampal glutamate uptake and glutamine synthetase activity in Wistar rats.

Recent studies indicate that caloric restriction (CR) protects the central nervous system from several pathological conditions. The impairment of astroglial cell function, including glutamate uptake, glutamine synthetase (GS) activity and S100B secretion, may contribute to the progression of neurological disorders. The present study aimed to evaluate hippocampal astrocytic changes in response to CR diet, measuring astroglial parameters, such as glutamate uptake, GS activity and the immunocontent of GFAP and S100B. Blood biochemical parameters were also analyzed. Rats (60-day old) were fed ad libitum or on CR diets for 12 weeks. CR-fed rats showed approximately 16% less body weight gain than control rats. The CR diet was able to induce a significant increase in glutamate uptake (23%) and in GS activity (26%). There were no statistically significant differences in the immunocontent of either GFAP or S100B. In summary, the present study indicates that CR also modulates astrocyte functions by increasing glutamate uptake and GS activity, suggesting that CR might exert its neuroprotective effects against brain illness by modulation of astrocytic functions.